Automatic control mechanism



June 24, 1930. FSCHAUM AUTQMATIG CONTROL MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 16, 1927 lem, NW

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June 24, 1930. F. scHAUM AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM Filed NOV. 16, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ele'ch er ,Schu um a@ GM, M

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June 24, 1930. 5F. SCHA'UM AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISII.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 31a/wanton Elecher Schaum, my M Filed NOV. 16, 1927 Patented June 24,y 1930 Unire l STA-'res FLETCHER soHAUi/i, or' PHILADELPHIA, PENNsYLvANiA, AssraNoa 'ro FLETCHER WORKS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A oonPoRATioN on PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM Application inea November is, 1927. serial No. ceases.

This invention relates to an automatic inachine control mechanism of the. perforated 'card' type and it consists in the novel features and arrangement hereinafter described Vand claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide Va machine control mechanism or device having meansfor throwing into action, in properly prescribed sequence, the several features of an apparatus or manufacturing machine, that the said features may function in prop ei'ly timed relation to produce the desired result. The device may be used to advantage in conjunction with Jacquard looms, batch mixing or compounding apparatus and all othermachines or apparatus requiring automatic means for throwing their active features into action in accord with a prescribed rhythm. and in properly timed sequcnce.

Still another object of the invention is'to provide an automatic conti'ol mechanism similar in its broadest aspect to a jacquard mechanism.

In the well known forms of jacquard conti'ols, however, there are a pluralityy of hooks and needles used and a knife for operating certain' of the hooks that had been actuated or selected by the needles'.

The present invention contemplates the doing away with the separate knife and with the needles so that; the rods which take the place of the ordinary form of hooks are directly actuated by the faces of fthe card which are mounted on theshaft that moves the cards into position.

In other words a movement of the shaft and its card thereon also directly operates the rods connected `with the instrumentalities of the machine to be operated.

With these and other objects in view the machine control mechanism includes in combination with other elements and features a series of perforated cards similar to those used in a standard Jacquard loom'. The cards are linked togethery in the form'of an endless belt or chain and the chain is mounted for movement in an orbital path. Means are provided for shifting the chain bodily at regular intervals of time so that the cards of the c liain which is at the active point in the orbit will. present the solid areav of its faceto the ends of certain push 'rodsor bars ot a set of such rods or bars whereby they are moved and o ierate the instrumentalities ufitliwhicli they are connected. At the saine time the perforation or perforations of the said card may receive the remaining` rod oi` rods of the series so that they will remain at rest and inactive.

lVhen the cards are assembled in the form of a chain and connected together7 they may be arranged to vary the sequence of opera'- tion of the rodsj to vary the lorder of operation thereof and to-vary the intervals of duration of activity or the periods'of inactivity thereof.V i

In the accompanying drawing z-e y Y f vFig. l is a top plan View of the automatic machine control mechanism. i

showing the parts at one position.

F ig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in 270 Fig. 2 is a side elevational View ythereof Figure 2 and showing the parts at another i position.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of` ynism is mounted upon the supporting base l.

rlh'is basemay be the frame of a loom, batch mixing apparatus or anyjothery machine or apparatus with which the control .mecha nism is used.

Standards 2 areY mounted upon the base l and a shaft 3 is journaled for rotation vin the upper ends of the standard and `bridges the space between the standards. pulley wheel 4 is fixed to one end of the shaft 3 and `a belt 5 is Atrained around the pulley wheel Y and is adapted to rotate the said wheel and shaft, Any other suitable means Amay be provided for rotating theshaft 3. Eccentrics 6 are mounted upon the shaft 3 'at points between the standards 2 andare spaced from each other. The bases of the standards 2 are provided with slots 7 and bolts 8 pass through the said slots and are screwed into the supporting base 1. By loosening the bolts 8, the standards may be shifted along the supporting base 1 and when the standards are adjusted to desired points upon the base, they are fixed or secured at such points by tightening the .bolts 8.

Frame sides 9 are' mounted upon the supporting base 1 and are disposed parallel With relation to each other. Cross bars 10 and 11-are connected at their ends with the frame sides 9 and are, spaced from each other in parallel relation and bridge the space between the frame sides 9 and support Vslidable rods Which Will be shortly described.

The frame sides 9 are provided at their upper portions with recesses 12 upon the lower edges of which are mounted guide strips 13.

yat their outer ends with angular flanges 13 which move along the side edges of the guide strips 13 and hold the shaft parallel with relation to the shaft 3. The flanges 18 are provided with radially projecting .rounded'corners 19. f

5 Dogs 2O are pivotally mounted at the sides of the frame members 9 and are provided at their upper edges Awith hoolrs 21 Which'are normally heldin theV path of movement'of the rrounded corners 19 by flat springs 22 also mounted upon the frame sides 9 Aand which bears at :their free ends againstA the loiver edges of the dogs 20. y Y YWhen'the shaft 14C is moving away from the hooks 21, the cylindrical portions 15 slide; upon the guide plates 1321s hereinbefore stated and when the shaft 111 is moving toward the hooks 21 and one of the corners `19 comes in. contact With the hooks, the peripheral portions 15 of the cylinder are arrested While at the same time the axis of the shaft 14 is moved over and beyond the hooks v21, thus the shaft 14n in its reciprocatoryV movement is given a turn or partial rotationat the end of the stroke. Rods 23 are pivotally connected at one end with the frame sides 9 and are provided on their under sides with friction plates 2i, which resti upon the edges of the uppermost roundmost corners 19 of the flanges and the lshaft 1d is restrained against turning 0r rotary movement until such time as one of the corners 19 cornes in contact With the hooks 21 Wien the said shaft is partially turned as hereinbefore described.

rlhe intermediate portion of the cylinder shaft 1&1- is provided with angularly disposed faces 27 best shown in Fig. of the drawing and the said intermediate portion of the said shaft is further provided With openings 28, which pass diametrically through the shaft and which are located along the median dimensions of the faces 27. The shaft 11i is further provided in the vicinity of the ends the faces thereof Without outstanding studs 29.

A yoke-member 30 is pivotally mounted upon the base support 1v and a roller 31 is j ournaled he'iveen the upper ends of the arms of sait` A spring 32 is connected at one end iv .ih the intermediate portion of the yolre and at its other end With the supporting base 1. f The springl32 is under tension and with a tendency to holdtae roller 31 spaced avray from the shaft 14:. A series of cards are connected together by means of linlrs 3ft whereby the said series of cards form Van endless chain or belt which is trained around, the roller 31 andthe intermediate portion of the shaft 14. Each of the cards on is provided with suitable openings 35 and with stud receiving openings 3 the said openings 36 being adapted to receive certain of the studs 29 asthe card is moving around the axis of the shaft 11i.

The openings 35 whichV are provided in the cards 33 re ster with certain of the openings 28 in the shaft 14.-..

All of the card are of the same length., breadtl and thickness and 'the length and breadth of each card is substantially the length and breadth of each of the faces 27 of the shaft 14. ln Vthat the roller 31 is being heldaivay from the shaft 14 by the spring 32 and inasmuch as ythe said chain of cards is trained around the roller 31 and the shaft 1i, the upper and lower runs of the chain of cards are maintained in Vproper taut condition.

Rods 37 are mounted Vfor longitudinal sliding movement in the cross bars 1() and 11 and carry stop pins 38 which are located between said cross bars. @oiled springs 39 surround the rods 37 and bear at one end against the cross bar 11 and at *L ends against the pins 38.y The springs 39 are under compression 1with a tendency to tneir other holdthe inner ends ofthe rods '37 toward the axis of the shaft 14.

Levers are pivotally mounted upon the supporting base 1, one of them being located in alignment with each of the rods 37. Links 4l connect the aligned rods and levers together'. The levers 40 are provided at their outer edges with rows of notches 42 and the said notches are adapted to receive pull elements 43 which are `connected with the throwing in mechanismsy of the machine (not shown) and to which the control mechanism is applied. lAs the shaft 14 is reciprocated,the chain of cards is correspondingly moved and when the shaft arrives at the end of its out stroke, it is turned as hereinbefore described, so that a new card is brought to position with one of the faces 27 of the shaft opposite the inner ends ofv the rods 37. As the shaft 14 moves toward the inner ends of the said rods, the face of the said card will strike the inner ends of certain of the said rods, while the innerends of the other rods will be received in the registering openings 35 and28 of the card and shaft 14 respectively. Thus rods which enter the openings will not be moved, but will remain at a state of rest, while those rods which are struck by the surface of the card will be moved longitudinally and, in turn the moving rod or rods through the links 4l will swing those levers 40 with which they are connected, whereby the said levers will Y move the pull. elements 43 connectedv thereto Vand thus the instrumentalities of the machine to which the control is applied will be` thrown into action or operation. y

Each rod 3? is provided with a stop pin 38 adapted to engage the face of the bar l1 when the actuated rods 37l are returned to normal position.

It is obvious that by varying the arrangement of the cards in the chain and by varying the arrangement of the openingsl 35 in the cards, the instrumentalities of the machine to which the device is applied may be thrown into action at the desired intervals and that the extent of the operation or action of said instrumentalities may be varied or controlled so that desired cycle of the several actions may be had to bring about the desired results of the machine that is to be controlled.

The cards may be arranged to vary the sequence of operation of the rods, to vary the order of operation thereof and to vary the intervals of duration of activity or the periods of inactivity thereof.

From the foregoing it will be .seenv that I have produced an automatic control mechanism wherein a number .of parts that are necessary in the ordinary form of jacquard mechanism are dispensed with.

It will also be seen that the movement of the shaft that carries the cards directly acin the actuation of the rods.

T he control has proven extremely `chicient in service, and as will be understood is easy to assemble, relatively cheap to manufacture and is of compact assemblage.

lt will be understood that many slight variations cr changes might be made in the arrangement or in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. i

Having thus described my invention Vwhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Let-y ters Patent -is l. An automatic control comprising al series A of yperforated cards. mounted for movement about an intermittently rotatable reciprccatory cylinder, -a series -of rods movably mounted for reciprocation in the path of the cards, each rod being connected with a distinct controlling lever vmeans and each card when reciprocated adapted to engage certain of the rods and through the f rod so engaged energize the controlling means connected thereto and means for reciprocating the entire series of cards.

2. An automatic control comprising a series ef rods mounted for movement and pivotalljg.7 connected with the lever means to be controlled, means vfor Vholding the rods at normal position, av chain of Vcards arranged in prescribed order, means for` moving the chain to present the cards successively to the series of rods, each card having surface area adapted to engage certain of the rods and openings adapted to receive the otherrmls of the series, and ,meansv for mcvving'the presented card toward the rods 'to rod engaging and receiving position, to move the rod being engaged by the surface area of the card and through the rod movc the controlling lever means connectedthereto and means for reciprocating'the entire series of cards.

3. An automatic control comprising a series of rods mountedv for movement and connected 'with the upright means to be con trolled, 'individual spring means, means for Vholding each of the rods at'normal position, a chain of cards arranged :in prescribed order, means for moving the ychain to present the cards successively to fthe series of rods, said means including a cylinder having its axis disposed in the planein which the axes of the rods lie, said chain of cards being trained around said cylinder, said cylinder having openings passing diametrically Vand means for reciproceting the entire ements.

therethrough, each card having a surface area adapted to engage certain rods of the series, and means for moving the presented card toward the rods to rod engaging and receiving position, to move the rod being engaged' by the surface area of the card and through the rod move the controlling means connected thereto and means for reciprocating the entire series of cards.

4l. In en automatic control device, spaced 'frame members, a cylinder shaft mounted hereon, means including a pitman 'for reciprocating and intermittently turning the Ycylinder shaft, a series of bars slidably mounted and having their ends disposed opposite and normally spaced from the cylinderrshaft, a plurality of levers respectively connected to said bars and a link connection between each respective bar and lever a series of cards linked together in the fori of a chain, said chain being trained around the cylinder shaft, a yoke member pivotally mounted between the frame members, e roller journaled upon the yoke member and disposed betwen opposite runs of the chein oi" cards, a spring` connected at one end with the yoke member and at its other end to a iixed point and serving to hold the chain in taut condition end means for reciprocating the entire series of cards.

5. In en automatic control device spaced 'iframe members, cross bers connected at their ends with the frame members and bridging the space between them, seid bars being spaced in parallel l relation, rods slidably mounted in the bars, springs surrounding the rods and located between the bars, said springsv bearing upon one of the bars and connected with the rods and serving to hold the rodsA at/normal position upon the bars,

- levers adapted to be connected to the devices to be controlled, link means lor connecting the rods With lever to be controlled, a cylinder shaft mounted for sliding move ment and intermittently rotating movement upon the frame members, means for sliding and rotating the cylinder shaft, studs carried by the shaft, e series of cards linked together and adapted to move around the cylinder shaft, the cards having openings for receivingthe studs and other openings adapted to receive certain of the roes.

6. An automatic control comprising a. .series of slidable elements connected with certain of the slidable elements While the balance or the slidable elements remain at rest .by penetrating' thev actuating elements,

series oi actuating el ln testimony whereof l effi: my signature.

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